Sound-producing device



Sept, 3, 1929, J HAWLEY 15721 166 SOUND PRODUCING DEVICE Filed July 1, l92 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 3, 1929. J. B. HAWLEY scum) PRODUCING DEVICE 2 Shets-Sheer. 2

Filed July 1 1926 Jjse leg Z/J M fioaq Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,727,106 PATENT OFFICE.

JESSE B. HA'WLEY, OF WILMETTE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

'10 UNITED REPRODUCERS CORPORATION, OF ST. CHARLES, ILLINOIS, A. COB- IPOBATION on NEW JERSEY.

SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICE.

Application filed July 1, 1926. Serial No. 119,807.

' The present invention relates to sound producing devices, such as radio loud speakers.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a novel sound producing means or device capable of being vibratably actuated,

whether flat or of the cone or horn shape or form, vibrating in unison and to the same extent or amplitude as the point to or at which the actuating stress may be applied or imposed upon or in the diaphragm, thus avoiding the lagging of parts as heretofore.

In diaphragms, such as of the cone type or the like, where the actuation is applied at the center or apex of the cone or the like,

and whether or not the rim be clamped or free, it frequently occurs that the rim parts and the parts intermediate the rim and the actuated point or part, lag in movement, and also may be moving in an opposite direction to that of the actuated point after reversal of movement thereof so that some parts might be vibrating out of phase, and so to a greater or lesser extent. Blasting, false tones, and lack of uniformity of tones in the audible range, etc., thus occur so that a true rendition of the original sounds cannot be heard. I

- The present invention, therefore, compre hends the avoiding, of such disadvantages and the providing for a vibrating or sound 5 emitting surface which will have all of its points moving in unison and in the same direction of actuation and also with equal or uniform movement or amplitude of movement or oscillation.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device with means for strengthening or stiffening the sound emitting device or diaphragm and at the point or points where the actuations are applied, the

strengthening means being, ina specific 1llustrative embodiment in the form of radial ribs or ridges extending from a central actu ated point toward and to the remote portions, such as the rim, so as to give the whole diaphragm rigidity to the end of every point in the diaphragm moving in unison yet lacking any peculiar characteristic of timbre usually accompanying rigid metal resonant members.

Where large volume is desired, a large sound producer has usually been required, yet the larger the diaphragm the greater has been the lagging, of the more or less remote points from the point of actuation so that the inefiiciency of the device increased with the size of the diaphragm. By the present invention, a large volume of sound can be efficiently produced from larger areas than heretofore and with much purer and truer tones and renditions. This may be accomplished by constructing the diaphragmatic member with a plurality of parts or components, each of the nature of a small rigid diaphragm, yet so connected together as in a multiple or series, to form a rigid unit with the components or parts operating simultaneously and in unison. The cumu lative effect of these components or parts is that of a single diaphragm of the same total area or even greater, but without the inefficient production usually incidental to the usual single large diaphragm.

Moreover, the invention also includes the application of the actuating stress or stresses at distributed points, preferably at a point for each smaller component or part, yet having but a single point of stress-application from the generating or regenerating device. The means for transmitting the stress or distribution may also be or act as a reinforcing or stiffening means. The shape of the parts or components, such as of conical forms, will give rigidity to the same, and although this may be sufficient, if it be desired, additional rigidity and reinforcing may be had by providing the parts with strengthening or stiffening ribs or the like, as above mentioned.

Heretofore, large area diaphragms of loud speakers or the like were usually circular or substantially so and occupied considerable space. If it were desirable to produce sound with a large amount of volume from a narrow space, such as an elongated opening beneath or above the cabinet of a radio receiving set, it was impossible to use the diaphragmatic type of loud speaker in such space. To produce loud or large volume sound in such space it was usual to use the horn type of speaker and shaping the mouth of the horn to fit in such space. The present invention comprehends the provision of a large area diaphragmatic type of loud speaker adapted to any shape my preferably arranging the smaller components of parts in series or similar relation, such as in lineal,

circular or concentric series.

Other objects, advantages, capabilities and features are comprehended by the invention as will later appear and arev inherently possessed thereby.

Referring to the drawings, Fi 1 is a view in vertical elevation of a face of a vibrating diaphragm.

Fig. 2 isa similar view of'the opposite side thereof.

Fig. 3 is a transversesectional view taken in a plane represented by line 3-3 in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Fig. 4 is a; similar view taken in a plane represented by line 4-4 in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in a plane represented by line 5'--5 in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Fig. 6 is a view in vertical elevation of a vibrating diaphragm composed of a pair of components arranged in lineal series.

Fig. 7 is a transverse, sectional view taken in a plane represented by line 7'7 in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view taken in a plane represented by line 8-8 in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

Fig. 9 is a view in vertical elevation of a greater number of components arranged in lineal series.

Fig. 10 isa similar view of components arranged in circular series.

Fig. 11 is a similar view of a greater number of component parts arranged in circular series.

Fig. 12 is a View in vertical elevation of a pair of components arranged in concentric seriesor relation.

And, Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional view taken in a plane represented by line 1313 in Fig. 12 of the drawings.

Referring now more in details to the drawings, the embodiments chosen to illustrate the invention are shown, reference being made first particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive of the drawings, as a disk or cone of circular form and having a number of sector shaped components or portions 1 between which are integral U-shaped ribs 2 extending from a central enlargement 3 and extending toward the rim portion 4. The ribs are preferably of greater width toward the center of the diaphragm and taper toward the rim thereof. All of these parts are made from molded material such as fibrous felted pulp or the like, and are integral so thating therethrough of an actuating rod or wire 5 held or secured to the part 3 by any suitable means, such as small nuts 6 and 7,

as clearly shown'in tht drawings.

Fig. 3 shows the use of the ribs on the concave side of the cone while Fig. 4 shows the ribs upon the convex side of the cone or diaphragm.

The rod 5 is connected to any suitable electro-magnetic or like device adapted to effect the vibration of the rod in accordance with the sound waves or modulated carrier wave of a receiving set in radio. The longitudinal vibrations of the rod 5 will be transmitted or imposed upon the part 3 and the parts integrally connected thereto. This will effect a vibration or actuation of the diaphragm parts or components 1 and also of the ribs 2, which act as stress distributing members to distribute the actuating forces at different points of the device, as well as strengthening=or stiffening members so that the transmission of the vibrations will be effected through these ribs to every part of the diaphragm, even to the very rim 4 thereof. Preferably the diaphragm isvibrated or actuated without the rim being in contact with any clamping means. It

may be supported by any suitable means whereby the edge of the diaphragm is free to move without any impediment. In this way every point'of the diaphragm may move simultaneously and in unison with the vibrating or actuated central portion 3 so that the diaphragm acts as a rigid member without lagging at the rim or any portion thereof. In the prior devices, when the central portion of the diaphragm was moved in a direction by the rod 5, the rim portion or intermediate portions would lag behind and when the vibration of the central portion was reversed the rim portion would still thereof.

Referring now to Figs. 6 to 13'inclusive, the components or parts of the diaphragm might be arranged in a series of cones or the like, a pair of the same being shown in Fig. 6. This diaphragm comprises integrally connected component parts in the form of cones 8 and arranged in lineal series. It will be understood that these components might be flat, but shaping them in the form of a cone will give them rigidity. They are preferably connected integrally with an actuating bridging means 9 preferably in the form of a hollow rib and extending to the centers or apexes 10 of the cones, the member 9 having an actuating point 11. If desired, each cone may have reinforcing ribs 2, but this is not absolutely essential when the diaphragm components are made in the shape of a cone or the like.

In Fig. 9 is shown a longer series of cones 8 spanned by an actuating and reinforcing means or member 12 connected to central or apex points of the component parts. This series and passes over the central or apex of sound with points of the intermediate components, and is provided with a central point of actuation 13 adapted to be connected to an actuating rod 5 connected to a regenerating device. It will be apparent from these constructions, that an actuation of the members 9 and 12 will be transmitted and "distributed to and at the central. points or apexes of the component cones 8 so that all may vibrate in unison or simultaneously. By reason of the rigidity of each component owing to its conical form or by reason of its being reinforced as by ribs 2, the Whole diaphragm will vibrate as a single unit without lagging or flexing and thus produce a large volume pure and true tonal renditions.

Where a loudspeaker diaphragm is to be located to .emit sound through an elongated opening in the cabinet of a radio receiving apparatus, it .will be readily seen that the diaphragms shown in Figs. 6 and 9 ma be readily utilized and .with a result far superior than to that effected by a single large circular diaphra'gmtype of feature heretofore used.

. Fig. 10 shows a similar arrangement with the component parts 8 arranged in circular series, this diaphragm being made up of three components. Each component is actuated from a central point by means of an actuating spanning member 14, which also acts as a reinforcing means, the member 14 having a central actuating point 15 receiv ing the vibrations or actuations from the re generating device and transmitting the same through the arms of the member 14 to the central points or apexes of the cones.

Fig. 11 shows a similar structure with four component parts 8'arranged also in circular series and actuated by a stress distributing member 16 having radial arms terminating 'at the central points or apexes of the cones for transmitting vibrations or actuations to these points and hencethe whole body of each component y 'part.

In Figs. 12 and 13, the component parts 17 and 18 are arranged in concentric series, namely, the part 7 is a small cone having its apex 19 connected to the actuating rod 5, in the usual manner, and by reason of the part-17 being of cone formation, or the like, it is rigid and adapted when vibrated or actuated to transmit the vibrations or actuation stresses to the larger frustro-conical part 18, the actuation stresses being distributed along the connecting ridge 20, every point in this ridge acting as an actuating point for the transmission of vibrations to the frustro-conical part 18. In this way the diaphragm is of simple form and yet made ri id and strong for effecting a large volume of sound with efficient rendition.

While I have herein described and upon the drawings shown a particular embodiment of the-invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but comprehends other constructions, details, arrangements of parts, and features without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus disclosed theinvention, I claim:

1. A sound diaphragm of seamless integral material and comprising astifi'ening portion having means for engagement with an actuating means, a sound emitting surface portion, and means for strengthening the ,surface portion against lag at points remote from the first mentioned portion.

2. A unitary sound diaphragm composed of a multiple of reinforced diaphragmatic parts, and means for distributing applied actuating stress to different points thereof.

8. A unitary sound diaphragm composed of a series of rigid diaphragmatic components adapted to vibrate in unison, and means y connecting the same and adapted to distribute applied actuating stresses to different points thereof.

4c.-A unitary sound diaphragm composed of a series of rigid diaphragmatic components adapted to vibrate in unison, a rigid means extending to actuating points of said components and having an actuated point from which actuating stresses may be distributed to the actuating points of the components.

5. A unitary sound diaphragm composed of a series of integrally connected conically shaped components, and means connected to said components at actuating points thereof and adapted to transmit actuation stresses to said points.

6. A sound radiatingdevice comprising a series Ofdiaphragm members connected together to form a unit, a bridging member connected to said diaphragm members to transmit vibratory stresses thereto, said bridging member having means for connection to an actuating element.

7. A sound radiating device comprising a series of diaphragm members integrally connected together to form a single unit, a bridging member integrally connected to said diaphragm members and extending thereover to actuating points thereof to transmit vibratory stresses thereto at said points and to reinforce said diaphragm 5 members, said bridging member having means for connection to an actuating element and to be vibrated thereby, said bridg- Y ing member acting to transmit the vibrations from the actuating element to the diaphragms.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe myname to this specification.

JESSE B. HAWLEY. 

